“They shoved, pushed me and pointed a gun at me” – Fire Service officer narrates ordeal

Alex King Nartey, the spokesman for the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), has recounted a harrowing encounter in which he was allegedly assaulted by three men in plain clothes who claimed to be CID officers of the Ghana Police Service.

The incident occurred on Wednesday (5 March) near the Flowerpot overhead pass immediately in front of the Palace Mall in Accra, where Nartey had gone for a photoshoot with a colleague, Frederick Fosuhene.

Nartey sustained injuries to his elbow in the incident.

According to Nartey, while they were attempting to cross the road at a zebra crossing, a speeding white pick-up truck (so far identified partially by the registration number **-2991-24), nearly ran the two Fire Service officers over.

When he confronted the occupants about their reckless driving, the situation quickly escalated.

“The driver and a passenger, both wearing braids, got out of the vehicle and aggressively confronted me,” Nartey recounted in a Facebook post on Monday (10 March).

“One of them grabbed my T-shirt by the neck, shoving and pushing me while insisting they were taking me away. When I demanded to know who they were and where they were taking me, they ignored me. Then, a third man stepped out and pointed an assault rifle at me.”

Though he repeatedly identified himself as a fire officer, Nartey said the men dismissed him with contempt, even attempting to snatch his service radio handset. It took the intervention of his colleague, who pleaded with the men, for them finally to release him.

Traumatised and injured in the assault, Nartey reported the incident to the East Legon Police Station, where he wrote a statement. He was later accompanied by investigators to the scene.

A witness promptly recognised him and confirmed that the men had identified themselves as police CID officers.

Nartey later sought medical attention at the Police Hospital, where he underwent X-rays and scans to assess his injuries.

“This attack has left me deeply shaken. I struggle to sleep, and even the sight of a policeman with a rifle now makes my heart skip a beat,” he said.

The police have assured Nartey of a professional investigation. He believes that justice must be served to prevent similar incidents in the future.

“If this could happen to a senior commissioned officer like me, then what about ordinary civilians?” he asked. “No one deserves to be treated this way, especially by those entrusted to protect us,” he said.

Credit: AsaaseRadio